A showdown is unfolding in Texas as Gov. Greg Abbott threatens to take away Democrats who have fled the state in protest of Republican-led effort to create a brand new congressional map.
Abbott stated Texas Home Democrats have till 3 p.m. native time on Monday to return to the statehouse for the particular session or danger dropping their jobs. Texas Lawyer Normal Ken Paxton advised Democrats who left must be arrested and forcibly introduced again.
The response from the Texas Home Democratic Caucus to Abbott’s risk was, “Come and take it.”
Democratic members who left the state are slated to carry numerous occasions all through the day Monday in Democrat-led states.
The proposed congressional map, backed by President Donald Trump, may create as much as 5 new Republican seats and assist Republicans hold management of the Home within the 2026 midterm elections. Consideration of the invoice had been set for Monday, however can not proceed if Democrats deny a quorum.
The State Capitol is seen on July 21, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Pictures
Democrats maintain occasions in New York, Massachusetts and Illinois
The primary press convention with Texas Democrats on Monday was with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in Albany.
“We can’t sit on the sidelines whereas Republicans attempt to rig the system to provide Donald Trump extra unchecked energy,” Hochul stated in an announcement. “Texas Democrats are standing up for the way forward for our democracy, and I am proud to face with them within the combat towards disenfranchisement.”
Texas Home Democrats who’ve gone to Massachusetts for the Nationwide Convention of State Legislators summit will probably be joined by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker for a press convention in Boston on Monday at 1 p.m. ET. Then, Texas Home Democrats who’ve gathered in Illinois will maintain a press convention with Democratic members of Congress in Chicago.
Pritzker on Sunday accused Trump of “rigging” the brand new Texas maps out of desperation and fear that because of his insurance policies, he was in peril of dropping Home Republican majorities in Washington. The Illinois governor additionally warned the newly-proposed maps set a harmful precedent throughout the nation.
“This isn’t simply rigging the system in Texas,” Pritzker stated. “It is about rigging the system towards the rights of all People for years to return.”
Abbott, Paxton threaten motion towards Democrats
Abbott, in his warning to Texas Home Democrats, stated leaving the state in protest amounted to “abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state workplace.”
“Actual Texans don’t run from a combat,” Abbott stated within the assertion. “However that is precisely what a lot of the Texas Home Democrats simply did. Relatively than doing their job and voting on pressing laws affecting the lives of all Texans, they’ve fled Texas to deprive the Home of the quorum obligatory to satisfy and conduct enterprise.”
Abbott stated in the event that they did not return by 3 p.m. native time on Monday, he would invoke Texas Lawyer Normal Opinion No. KP-0382 to take away the lacking Democrats from membership within the Texas Home. He additional went on to say the lawmakers who left “can also have dedicated felonies” by fundraising to be able to pay the $500 tremendous they danger accruing every day they’re absent.
Paxton, in a social media submit, wrote that “Democrats within the Texas Home who try to run away like cowards must be discovered, arrested, and introduced again to the Capitol instantly. We must always use each software at our disposal to search out those that assume they’re above the legislation.”
What’s at stake
The brand new congressional map was proposed by Texas Republicans following a push by Trump for maps extra favorable to Republicans to assist the celebration hold the bulk within the Home in 2026. At the moment, Home Republicans are working with a slim majority.
Trump has stated he needs Republicans to select up 5 new seats in Texas and others across the nation. Democrats have slammed the transfer and stated it dangers hurting minority voters.
Because the redistricting battle heats up, a Home Republican will introduce laws to ban mid-decade redrawing of congressional maps nationwide.
California GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley will formally introduce the invoice on Tuesday which is able to “nullify new maps adopted by states earlier than the 2030 census, together with any which can be adopted this 12 months.” The invoice’s future stays unsure, nonetheless, because it’s unlikely to be backed by Home Republican management.
ABC Information’ Lauren Peller contributed to this report.
